Aram I condemns formation of antinational atmosphere in Armenia 

ArmInfo. The Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia condemned the current unhealthy state of relations between church and state and the related arrests of  clergy and laity in Armenia, and has made indirect attempts to calm  the situation and resolve the issues that have arisen.

This was stated by Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia during his  visit to St. James Cathedral in Montreal on October 16, 2025, the  first day of his papal visit to the Armenian Diocese of Canada.

He noted that in recent years, when addressing the internal and  external challenges, concerns, and problems facing Armenia, he, as  Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, has clearly and  consistently stated his position and even offered to personally visit  Armenia and participate in discussions on possible solutions to  domestic problems. "We also condemned the violation of national  values and norms, and the creation of an anti-national atmosphere. We  spoke about all of this, condemned it, and called on all of us to  take steps toward shared national interests and values. We reiterate  this today and always. The current state of relations between the  Armenian Church and the state is detrimental and unacceptable for our  homeland and people. The current situation cannot be resolved through  arrests and slander. Even the most hostile countries discuss issues  through dialogue," Aram I noted.

According to him, is it impossible to establish a dialogue between  parties belonging to the same nation and country, between the Church  and the state, on the highest values of Armenia and our people, in a  situation where the blood of thousands of young Armenians has been  shed, Artsakh is occupied, Artsakh's public figures have been  illegally arrested, and today the two countries have extended a hand  of peace and are negotiating? "Where will this process lead Armenia?  To self-destruction? We must not allow this. People, authorities, and  structures are subject to change. Let us hold on to what remains  unchanged. We must act with this awareness and determination.  Therefore, let us together save Armenia from the danger of self-  destruction through dialogue," said Aram I.

On October 15, it was reported that a group of clergy from the  Aragatsotn Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church had been  detained. As it later turned out, the clergy were detained based on a  complaint filed by Daniel Ionisyan, head of the Union of Informed  Citizens NGO, with the country's investigative authorities. The  complaint was filed in connection with an interview given on  September 16 by Aram Arakelyan, then the spiritual abbot of  Hovhannavank Monastery. Arakelyan stated on Public Television that he  had been forced to participate in opposition rallies in 2021. The  Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin announced the detention of 13 clergy,  as well as the diocese's treasurer and accountant. Meanwhile, the  Investigative Committee of Armenia announced yesterday that it had  arrested three individuals in connection with a criminal case  involving coercion to participate in public meetings, obstruction of  the exercise of electoral rights, and theft of entrusted property on  an especially large scale, and that several searches had been  conducted. It should be added that this is all part of the  anti-church campaign launched by the Armenian Prime Minister against  the Armenian Apostolic Church since May of this year.